Review Day: Kong Active Cat Play Mat from Chewy.Com

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015





Hi Everyone,


Today we are reviewing the Kong Active Cat Play Mat from Chewy.com. Chewy.Com is an amazing company that offers a number of different cat and dog products, ranging from food and treats, to litters, litterboxes, toys, beds, mats, scratchers, etc! Chewy.Com is definitely one of my favorite pet places to shop!



The Kong Active Cat Play Mat, is exactly that, it is soft and plush (a red velvet material) on one side, and burlap and scratchy on the other side, it sports strands of black felt on all corners of the mat, Zayd loves batting at them. The part that really gets Zayd excited, is the crunchy plastic wrap inside of the mat, when he walks on the mat or when I throw the mat acrossed the room, he just goes so crazy for it. Anya, who is a very shy and relaxed cat, goes bat shit crazy over the sound of the crinkle mat! She just runs and attacks it. Saphira doesn't like this mat at all, which is surprising, because she loves just about any kind of cat toy or other physical activity, Star isn't a big fan either and hates the feeling on her paws and the sound. So 2 out of 2 cats like the Kong Active Cat Play Mat and 2 out of 2 don't. :)

I will probably buy another one if this one is to break or as soon as Anya learns to share it with Zayd. ;) The Kong Active Cat Play Mat is for sale on Chewy.Com for $8.81 cents.

Kong Active Cat Play Mat. Great for cats and kittens alike.

Scratch area in center.

Soft, easy mat to lay on.

Kong makes cat toys, dog toys, cat and dog collars, and I believe dog harnesses and leashes too.

Zayd checking out the Kong Active Cat Play Mat.

Handsome boy.

Zayd, or as I like to call him 'Miniature Anya'.

And no, this one is Zayd, not Anya. Hard to believe that he is already half her size!

Pros:

* My 2 Ragdoll cats love it.

* Good price.

* Very fast shipping.

* Amazing customer service (as always, Chewy.Com hasn't proved me wrong yet!).

* Double sided; serves as a bed on one side and a scratching post on the other side.

* It's a 4 in 1 specialty package; toy, bed, scratching post, crinkle plastic wrap inside to excite most cats and kittens.




Cons:

* Star and Saphira disproved of the Kong Active Play Mat.

* It comes to you rolled up, when you open it you have to re-flatten it with something heavy (book, chair, standing on it, etc) for at least 24 hours, so it doesn't recoil back. Standing on it and putting heavy weight books on it worked for me.

* Plastic crinkle paper inside of the mat annoys human ears at night!

* Hurts human feet to step on the burlap part in the morning when getting out of bed.



Ragdoll Mommy~

That Awkward Moment, When You Want a DOG....

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015



Hi Everyone,


I know, it's crazy and I've likely lost my mind, but I am **dying** for a dog, and a specific breed in particular -- the Miniature Schnauzer. I have never owned my own dog before, but I've lived with different dog breeds my entire life, I also consider myself a cat person. Up until about 10 years old, I hated dogs. When I was 0 months through 2 years old, my family and I had two English Mastiff dogs,  unfortunately one was hit by a train and died, the other died of hip dysplasia (a very common genetic disease in English Mastiffs), when I was about 6 years old, we got more English Mastiffs and bred them, we sold them roughly 2 years later when we moved to they city and could not keep them, when I was 10 years old, we got Miniature Dachshunds and bred them. Now I want my own dog.




I first fell in love with the Miniature Schnauzer a few months ago, it was a rainy and dreary day out and I got bored and decided to look up 'small shed free dog breeds', all but one were ugly. The Miniature Schnauzer has been on my 'to do list' since then. About 2 weeks ago, while in Petsmart, I was shopping around for a good, new, wet food that doesn't irritate Zayd's sensitive stomach, some guy with a Salt & Pepper Miniature Schnauzer walked by me! I totally wanted his dog lol. Unfortunately, I cannot own a Miniature Schnauzer right now, or even a regular dog, but in a few years (probably about 5 - 8 years! I can:-( But in the mean time, (get it? 'mean' time...), I am researching all I can about these amazing dogs.

Beautiful Salt & Pepper Miniature Schnauzer with cropped ears. My future Mini Schnauzer will very likely have cropped ears too.

So, that begs the questions:

* Have you ever owned a Miniature Schnauzer before or know someone that does\did?

* Are these dogs yappy since they are in the terrier group?

* Do they get along good with cats? Ragdolls in particular?

* What was **your** first ever dog (purebred or mixed)?

* If you own (or have owned) a Miniature Schnauzer before, would you recommend them to a first time dog owner, like myself?




Thanks everyone!!

Ragdoll Mommy~

Wordless Wednesday: Famous Movie Quote Applied to Reality

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015

"Fish are friends, not food"  LOL (Nemo, 2003). I am attempting to breed my two Halfmoon betta fish, in the bottom left hand corner is my female (Midnight), and to the top right hand corner by the rocks is my male (Metallica, like the band). I will try to get better photos of them in early August -- fish aren't the easiest things to photograph ;)

Ragdoll Mommy~

Weekly Ragdoll: Introducing a New Cat or Kitten to Your Resident Cat(s)

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015



Hi Everyone!

Hope y'all had a good weekend. We did and we're catching temperatures of 75 at night and 94 and over during the day, that might seem super hot to some of you guys, but that's normal summer weather for us in Florida.  I have **finally** had some 'free' time to work on the blog some before work, school, chores, Zayd, and my 2 new betta fish keep me busy. Lucky for me because now I have my ass in gear for the week on this blog! Kidding...sort of ;)




When I first brought Zayd home, I had kept him away from my other cats for 3 days to help prevent stress on all cats and possible sickness for Zayd since he was new. Saphira was so mad at me that when I would open my room door to walk in and visit Zayd, she would dart in and beat his sorry butt into the corner, Star let me know that she disproved of having another cat around by leaving me little 'presents' by the litterbox, yuck! Anya was the most excepting of Zayd's arrival since she is a Ragdoll cat and they are suppose to get along great with other pets, Anya was a little jealous at first and when I finally let her in to meet Zayd, she would be a big push over and want constant attention from me when I would be petting Zayd. Silly girl, but of course I gave her what she wants.



What helped me the most when I introduced my 3 adults to Zayd was letting them sniff each other through the door way crack until I finally let them all meet him for the first time (one at a time). Best of luck!

Anya to Zayd: "you came to the wrong place, kid." Notice how Anya only has a few inches on Zayd! (Anya bottom and Zayd top). 

Ragdoll Mommy~

Nico and Renato Monday

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015

Nico.

Renato.

Ragdoll Mommy~

Bitch I'm Fabulous ;)

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015

This is how we celebrated our 3 year anniversary on July 1, 2015. I gave her tuna with shreaded cheese on a salad plate with low fat milk in a wine glass. She's just that special ;)

Baby blues.

Anya has gotten so light since I switched her over to a grain free wet food. I love this girl!

By the way, today I have had Zayd for a month!


Ragdoll Mommy~

Happy 4 Months Old to Zayd!

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015



Hi Everyone,


This is a really emotional thing for me to go through; Zayd is the age Renato died at, 4 months old. Not only because Zayd has outlived Renato, but also because I am horrified of HCM, which is what killed both Nico and Renato, but I trust that Zayd's breeder is ethical and didn't screw me over when I got Zayd.


Although poor little Renato died at the tender age of just 4 months old, I have great confidence that Zayd (who turned 4 months old today) will, in no doubt, outlive Renato.

This little guy (who isn't so 'little' anymore) now weighs 8.2 lbs and he is only 4 months old! He hit 8 lbs at 3 months old though :)

Zayd is a male Blue Colorpoint Ragdoll.

Ragdoll Mommy~

Nico & Renato Monday

Renato.

Nico.

Ragdoll Mommy~

'Till The Sun Turns Black

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015



With a heavy heart, it is I whom shall announce that my beloved Nico died 1 year ago today.
I miss him more than I can say and as much as I wanted to be selfish and let him live with me for a couple more hours I decided to be brave and let him leave this place to the unknown. I don't consider myself to be a religionist, we have no proof that god does or doesn't exist other than by 'word of mouth', I believe the bible to be a joke, I believe in the act of chemistry and science to explain life by the use of atoms. Who knows where the dead go (if anywhere), but when I die, I want to go where Nico went.


I don't want this to be a sad and depressing post, but I can't help but to think about what happened a year ago. Nico will be dearly missed.


Nico: August 14 Thursday, 2008 - July 14 Monday, 2014



Ragdoll Mommy~

Nico.

I can't believe that 1 year ago I lost the love of my life.

Life with Ragdolls' 2 Year Birthday!

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015




Hi Everyone!


Today I started my blog 2 years ago! Wow. It doesn't feel that long though, but it also feels like I've done it my whole life. So, you could say that I am unbiased about my yearly feelings when Life with Ragdolls gets a new birthday, ha!



Blogging, for me, has been a challenge since I started, it felt like I was always in a competition with the older, more experienced, bloggers of the blog world. I enjoy blogging as a whole, but man does it require a lot more work than I thought! I struggle every week to take the time to sit down, think of a good subject, write it, schedule it\publish it, and of course upload photos from my iPhone to my laptop from the Blogger app. This year has been crazy busy for me, between work, school, chores, starting my cattery, designing a new website (for my cattery), spending enough time with my animals and especially with Zayd and teaching him his new name, I have almost no time for blogging! That's why my posts have been spotty the past few weeks. However, I cannot think each and every one of you enough for reading, commenting, following, and visiting Life with Ragdolls for 2 years. Yes, years! Congratulations to Anya and Angel Nico for making this blog a super star in the spotlight. To remember Nico and him in all of his glory, please visit here and pay your visits to my foundation for Life with Ragdolls. Nico will be dearly missed.

Anya, July 2015.

Rest in Peace, Nico. Nico, June 2014.

Ragdoll Mommy~

Nico and Renato Monday

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015

Anya left and Nico right. January 2014.

Anya top and Renato bottom. September 2014.

Come back tomorrow for some exciting news! And, more information about Zayd on Thursday.

Ragdoll Mommy~

Nico and Renato Monday

I love and miss you, Nico.

And, you Renato.

PS: more info on Zayd soon!

Ragdoll Mommy~

Happy 4th of July and Happy 9th Birthday to Saphira!!

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015

Happy 4th of July! And, I cannot believe that Saphira is already 9 years old!





Ragdoll Mommy~

A Big Celebration Dated 3 Years Ago: My 3 Years with Nico and Anya

All Photo and Text Copyright Life with Ragdolls 2013~2015



Hi Everyone,


Anyone that has been following this blog for a while knows that I got Nico and Anya on July 1, 2012 at 3.11 years old. Well....today I am celebrating 3 years with Anya! How sad that sweet Nico went over the Rainbow Bridge on  July 14, 2014. I cannot believe that it has been 3 full years since I got them. Some days it still feels like I got them 6 months ago, other days it feels like I had them my whole life.



Nico and Anya were everything I ever wanted wrapped up into two living beings. After all the hell I lived through, they were my savior. I feel like I jumped through a thousand hoops to get to them, I wouldn't trade them for the world. There was something about these two animals that caught my eye since day one, something so deep and mysterious, something special. With a touch like no other. I don't believe in good luck nor bad luck, I am a firm believer in working to achieve a dream come true, even if that means making some sacrifices to achieve that big dream. How can you know what things are worth if your hands won't move to do a day's work?

1 year ago today on our 2 year celebration.

1 year later on our 3 year celebration. A picture says a thousand words...
Nico is forever in my heart, one day in my arms.

Anya at 2 months old.

Nico at 2 months old.

Nico June 2014.

Nico and Anya May 2013.

Anya.

Nico.

Nico.

Nico.

Anya.

Anya July 2014.

Anya.

Nico.

Nico and Anya.

Nico.

Anya July 2014.

Nico on our 2 year mark.

Anya.

Nico.

I miss you so bad.

First blog picture.

Nico.

Nico left paw prints on my heart.

Nico and Anya.

Nico's sweet baby face.

Golden fur and sapphire blue eyes.

Nico and Anya.

Nico.

Roar!

Nico and Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Nico.

Nico October 2013.

Anya whispering to Nico at the Rainbow Bridge.

Anya.

Anya.

Nico.

Anya.

Anya.

Nico.

Nico.

Nico and Anya.

Anya November 2014.

Nico.

2 month old Nico (right) and Anya left.

Anya.

Anya.

Never tear us apart.

Nico.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Nico 1-25-2009.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya's work out.

Got treats?

Mmm...

Beautiful Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Big yawn.

Anya's doubtful look.

Nico.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Anya.

Nico.

Nico.

Anya.

Nico.

Help! 

I'll love you forever.

Ragdoll Mommy~